NetReg = Network Registration = Improved ability to manage the network.

This summer, CIT will begin to deploy a network registration system for our wired network. When you plug a new device into the network, that device will be placed into a very restricted portion of the network. Firing up a browser will take you automatically to a web page where you can “register” your device by entering your NetworkID and password.

This new service is another tool CIT can use to help monitor and manage unpatched systems which are vulnerable to attack, and systems that have already been compromised and are actively attacking systems nearby.

NetReg will be deployed subnet by subnet, starting in the dorms. By August 1^st, all dorm subnets will require registration.

There are many versions of NetReg, one good site for general information is the NetReg site at Sourceforge http://netreg.sourceforge.net/ .

We will "deregister" all devices at least once annually requiring folks to perform a short re-registration. We may "deregister" everyone occasionally if we have a significant event and need to encourage folks to apply some specific maintenance.

One of the goals of the project is to take this opportunity (when you are registering a device) to scan your system for known vulnerabilities, facilitate your applying necessary OS maintenance, and facilitate your installing current anti-virus software. We are still investigating technologies to accomplish these “advanced” features, so we aren’t sure at this point how much we will roll out in this first phase. Just being able to tie device hardware addresses to specific users will go a long way toward improving our ability to respond to compromised systems.

We do not currently plan to implement a “guest account” system. If someone who does not have a UVM NetworkID needs to use the wired network, a UVM affiliate may register the device in their name, recognizing they will be contacted if the device is compromised or violating acceptable use policies. UVM’s acceptable use policy is here http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/cit/compuse.htm .

More information on UVM’s NetReg project is available on the project website at https://www.uvm.edu/cit/projects/netreg .